Who is challenging for the Liberal Party leadership?

Angus Taylor is challenging Sussan Ley for the leader of the Liberal Party. He used to be the shadow treasurer.

Why is this happening?

Mr. Taylor said the party needs to do better and he has lost faith in Ms. Ley's ability to lead. Some members agree with him.

When will the decision be made?

The Liberal Party will have a meeting and a vote on Friday morning.

Who supports Angus Taylor?

Some members from the conservative part of the party are supporting him. Sarah Henderson is one.

Who supports Sussan Ley?

Andrew Bragg and Andrew Wallace are supporting Sussan Ley. Mr. Wallace said it is not right to challenge the first female leader.

Angus Taylor Challenges Sussan Ley for Liberal Party Leader

The Liberal Party of Australia is experiencing a significant internal shift as Angus Taylor has initiated a challenge for the leadership, stepping down from his frontbench role to directly confront the party's current leader, Sussan Ley. This move has triggered a formal process for a leadership spill, with a party room meeting and ballot now scheduled. The challenge comes after a period of internal division and following Ley's nine-month tenure as the first female leader of the party.

Unfolding Leadership Contest

The events leading to the leadership challenge began with Angus Taylor's resignation from shadow cabinet on Wednesday night. This action, a formal prerequisite for challenging the leadership, signaled his intention to unseat Sussan Ley.

Breaking: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership - 1

Taylor formally announced his intention to challenge Ley on Thursday morning.
The Liberal Party Whip, Aaron Violi, confirmed receipt of a request for a special party room meeting to hold a leadership spill.
A meeting has been scheduled for Friday morning at 9 am to conduct a leadership ballot.

Shifting Alliances and Resignations

Taylor's challenge has coincided with a wave of resignations from the Liberal frontbench, with several MPs withdrawing their support for Ley and aligning themselves with Taylor.

Notable resignations from shadow ministry include James Paterson, Jonathon Duniam, Phil Thompson, Claire Chandler, and Matt O'Sullivan.
These resignations appear to stem primarily from the conservative faction of the party, while moderates have adopted a more reserved stance. Senator Dave Sharma, for example, has declined to state his preference publicly ahead of the vote.

Supporters Emerge for Both Contenders

While a number of MPs have resigned from Ley's shadow cabinet, both Taylor and Ley have allies publicly voicing their support.

Breaking: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership - 2

Allies of Angus Taylor include Victorian conservative Sarah Henderson.
Supporters of Sussan Ley include Opposition housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg and Opposition legal affairs spokesperson Andrew Wallace. Wallace has expressed strong criticism of the move to challenge Ley, viewing it as unacceptable to "effectively knife" the party's first female leader.

Supporting Ley	Supporting Taylor	Undecided / Neutral
Andrew Bragg	Sarah Henderson	Dave Sharma (Moderate Senator)
Andrew Wallace (Shadow Attorney General)	Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT Senator)	Tim Wilson (Moderate MP)
Allies in the conservative faction (unspecified)	Colleagues who may doubt Taylor's capability

Motivations and Timing

Reports suggest that neither Taylor nor Ley had initially desired a leadership spill to occur this week. Taylor's resignation and subsequent challenge appear to be a direct response to perceived weaknesses in Ley's leadership.

Taylor has publicly stated that the Liberal Party "must do better" and that he has "lost faith" in Ley's ability to lead.
Some colleagues, however, reportedly have doubts about Taylor's capacity to improve the party's fortunes, even while acknowledging Ley's "passive leadership and poor showing in parliament" as contributing factors to the loss of confidence.
Taylor previously contested a leadership ballot against Ley in May, losing by a narrow margin of 29 votes to 25. Three of Ley's supporters from that ballot are no longer in the party room.

Internal Party Dynamics

The challenge highlights existing divisions within the Liberal Party, particularly between its conservative and moderate wings.

Breaking: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership - 3

Taylor is identified with the conservative faction, contrasting with Ley's perceived alignment with the moderate wing.
The resignations from shadow cabinet have thus far been exclusively from conservatives, suggesting a coordinated effort.
The ability of Ley to retain leadership may hinge on her capacity to unite the moderate MPs within the party room.

Background on Angus Taylor

Angus Taylor is described as a conventional Liberal figure who has been a prominent member of the party for an extended period. He previously served as shadow treasurer and Opposition defence spokesperson before resigning to initiate this challenge. His background includes advising corporate boards on strategy and academic achievements such as a Rhodes scholarship. He is often seen as having the "on-paper qualifications" for leadership.

Sussan Ley's Tenure

Sussan Ley became the first female leader of the Liberal Party in May, defeating Taylor in a leadership ballot. Her tenure has been marked by internal party strife and reportedly low personal ratings.

Breaking: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership - 4

Evidence of Support

Multiple sources indicate growing support for Taylor's challenge.

"Support builds for Angus Taylor after launching Liberal party leadership challenge against Sussan Ley" (The Guardian).
"A growing list of frontbenchers quit the shadow ministry, pulling their backing for Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and throwing their support behind Angus Taylor" (9News).
"Nine's political editor Charles Croucher said Taylor has the party support to seriously challenge Ley for the top job" (9News).
"Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price… said she would support Angus Taylor in a leadership contest" (ABC News).

Conclusion and Next Steps

The Liberal Party is poised for a significant leadership decision this Friday morning. Angus Taylor has formally challenged Sussan Ley, securing the necessary support to trigger a party room meeting and ballot. This contest is unfolding against a backdrop of internal party divisions, with a notable number of frontbenchers resigning their positions to support Taylor. The outcome will depend on the allegiances of remaining MPs, particularly moderates, and the ability of both candidates to garner sufficient votes within the party room. The period leading up to Friday's meeting will likely involve intense negotiation and campaigning among Liberal MPs.

Sources Used:

Angus Taylor Challenges Sussan Ley for Liberal Party Leader

Unfolding Leadership Contest